January5, 2007

WASHINGTON,
DC – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO), Chairman
of the House Armed Services Committee, released the
following statement concerning the Department of
Defense’s announced military leadership
changes, including the retirement of the Army Chief
of Staff and new commanders in Iraq:

“I appreciate the
courtesy of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who called to
inform me this morning about a number of key military
personnel changes.

General Peter Schoomaker,
Army Chief of Staff, plans to retire from the Army for a
second time.
General
Schoomaker has set a superb example of what it means to
serve the people of the
United States of America, and I thank him and his family for
their dedication and sacrifices through the years.

General George Casey will
rotate from his position as the Commander of the
Multi-National Force in Iraq to accept nomination as the new Army Chief of
Staff.
In another
change, General John Abizaid will leave his position as
Commander of U.S. Central Command.

Undertaking new assignments
to fill the critical positions vacated by General Abizaid
and General Casey will be Admiral William Fallon as
Commander of U.S. Central Command and General David
Petraeus as the Commanding General of the Multi-National
Force in Iraq.

Admiral Fallon, who currently
leads U.S. Pacific Command, is one of America’s best strategists. I am confident that
he will be able to work across service lines as CENTCOM
Commander.
General
Petraeus has already held two successful leadership positions
in Iraq and is a first-class leader.
If anyone can
help motivate the Iraqis into taking on more security
responsibility and well lead American forces in Iraq, it is
he.

I look forward to working
with these fine commanders as we all strive to improve the
status of our military and find a successful way to bring
our troops home from Iraq.
The
President has a fine new team here.
I hope he
matches it with a new strategy that will shift responsibility
for security to Iraqis and begin the responsible redeployment
of American forces.”